He also claimed that Mr Routledge, pictured, was addressed as “Bernie” by pupils at the independent girls’ school and that he witnessed the former head teacher inappropriately put his hand on the shoulder of a sixth form student.

John Benson, representing Mr Routledge, described the claims as “mischievous” and accused Mr Locke of carrying out a “mudslinging exercise”.

On day two of the tribunal in Wrexham on Wednesday, Mr Benson said Mr Locke had made the claims in his witness statement, which stated that Mr Routledge was “inappropriately dressed” for his role as principal – a promotion he gained in 2010.

Speaking to Mr Locke, Mr Benson said: “I suggest that is mischievous and inappropriate to include in a witness statement.”

Mr Locke, a businessman who is mainly based abroad, responded: “I was shocked. I thought perhaps something was going on at the school, but it became apparent that was his normal style.

“It was a different person who turned up as head.”

He added that including the claims in his evidence showed “the character of the person”.

When asked by Mr Benson as to how he dealt with these issues, Mr Locke admitted: “I did nothing about it.” Mr Benson responded: “You’ve carried out a mudslinging exercise in the hope that something sticks.”

Mr Routledge, who lives in Gwernaffield, near Mold, was suspended in April 2011 for 10 allegations of misconduct – primarily social networking with children – before eventually being sacked six months later.

His partner Helen Price, the school’s associate head of pastoral care, was also suspended for seven allegations of misconduct, but was not sacked until June last year.

Prior to the start of the tribunal on Tuesday, Mr Locke had conceded in writing that both dismissals were “procedurally unfair”.

He also accepted that Ms Price had never been given a disciplinary hearing to respond to the allegations despite being suspended for more than a year.

Mr Locke said the primary reason for Mr Routledge’s dismissal was “inappropriate” comments made to pupils on a Facebook page called The Bernard Routledge Appreciation Society, which was set up by students of his former school in Chester.

Mr Routledge is alleged to have posted the comments on December 4 and 5, 2009.

The tribunal heard that they allegedly contained “sexual innuendo” and “childish bravado”, according to a “horrified” Mr Locke.

Mr Benson accused Mr Locke of being previously aware of the alleged comments but had dragged them up as part of an “orchestrated” campaign to “get rid of Mr Routledge”.

“You behaved in a scandalous manner towards this teacher,” he said.

Mr Locke rejected the claims, adding that the alleged Facebook comments were a “serious matter”.

The tribunal also heard that allegations levelled at Ms Price included “inappropriate classroom conduct” following an alleged complaint by a parent, but no written evidence was ever provided to back up the claims.

Ms Price was also accused of consuming alcohol in the school’s boarding house and failing to report unprofessional conduct, which related to a comment made by her partner Mr Routledge during an assembly.

Mr Locke alleged that Mr Routledge had said “they might have chopped his bits off” in relation to the children’s school trip to see the London Dungeons.

When Mr Benson asked Mr Locke whether the other teachers sat in the assembly had been punished for not reporting the comment, he replied “no”.

WalesOnline is part of Media Wales, publisher of the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the seven Celtic weekly titles, offering you unique access to our audience across Wales online and in print.